- What are the key indicators that the Game of School is being played?
- The Game of School is evident when there seems to be that unspoken agreement between students and the teacher that imposes a we will get through this mentality. The author gives examples of unnecessarily long mindless morning rituals such as checking homework, morning announcements, breakfast, etc. in certain cases this can take upwards of 45 minutes before learning has started. Teachers whose clocks are counting down to retirement and students who are counting down til summer are another indicator that the game is most likely being played.
- How did the GOS influence your own view of school and learning in high school?
- In high school the game of school was part of the culture. There were no requirements of passing a NECAP or other standardized text in order to graduate, and this propelled students such as myself to discard learned information as soon as the unit was over. It is embarrassing to think how much I was taught, and how little I deemed important enough to retain. High School provided me with all the experiences I could want, however sometimes at the age of 16 you don't know what you want and end up not exploring some interests that may have been hidden, or not as embraced as other interests. The lack of risks taken in high school shows how evident the game was while I was in school.
- How are these views affecting your approach to being a student at URI?
- Being a non-traditional student I believe my approach to being a student at URI is far different than what the approach of a recent high school graduates would be. I am not here because of a feeling of entitlement or cultural expectations. I am here to learn. I do think the game exists at URI but in a potentially different way. Professors at URI are not only teachers, but are researchers. I think there is a game in which professors are required to teach far too many classes an can interfere with their research agenda. This can be sensed by students and then the game begins.
- What role do you think the GOS play in efforts to improve schools?
- It is hard for me to believe that the GOS can be taken out of school, but it can be taken out of classrooms, In order for the game to be taken out of a classroom will require a no excuses approach by the teacher, and a change in culture. I think that the game is not entirely a negative aspect of school. The GOS can be beneficial to provide a sense of street smarts to the student. There is room for some discussion on how saavy some of the players of the GOS are in their efforts to thwart ideas, mundane tasks, or teachers who do not have the student's best interest in mind.